Steam-carriage



3 Sheets-Sheet l.

J S. HALLlv Steam-Carriage.

Patented Mar. 3l, 1857.

' s Sheets-sheet .2. J HALL.

Steam-Carriage.

No. 16,919. Patented Mar. 31, 1857q AMAPHOTQ-LITHU. CO. NAY. (USBDRHESPRCCESS.)

` 4. 3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

J. S. HALL.

Steam-Carriage.

Patented Mar'. 31, 1857,

` unirsi) sTATns PATENT orricn.

JOHN S. HALL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-CARRIAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 16,919, dated March 31, 1857.

To all 'whom t may concern.' p v Be it known that I, JOHN S. HALL, ofPittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny, in the State of Pennsylvania,have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam- Carriages; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accoml panying drawings and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention ,consists in certain improvements ashereinafter described, by which I am enabled to construct a very simpleand practical steam carriage or locomotive for common roads, forplowing, &c., and which also embraces the advantages of a stationarymotive power for driving any kind of machinery.

To enable others skilled in the art, to make andv use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference beinghad, to the accompanying` drawings, forming part of this specification.The character of the views of the different plates may be readilyunderstood, from the explanations following, viz:

Plate I: Figure 1, represents a top view of carriage. Fig. 2, representsa side elevation of carriage. Fig. 8, represents a vertical section ofcarriage. Fig. 4, represents a skeleton bottom view of carriage.

Plate II: Fig. 2, represents a bottom view of carriage.

Plate III: Fig. l, represents a vertical section of carriage at line aifr, Fig. 1, Plate I. Fig. 2, represents, similar view, with axle in anoblique position or with one of its wheels, elevated. Fig. 3, representsa modified form of box (H2), (seen in Figsl and 2, Plate III). Fig. trepresents a vertical section of driving box, on line 5, e, Fig. 1,Plate III. Fig. 5, represents a side elevation of box (H2) and portionAof shaft (E) on which are collars (A A2). Fig. 6, represents an endelevation of driv ing box (H2).

I construct the body or floor (A,) of my carriage, of any desirable sizeor form, (for instance, the shape represented in the drawings,) ofboiler iron, or hollow (best seen in Plate 3,) for the purpose ofserving as a tank, for containing water `for feeding the boiler duringtravel or the operation of the engines. I also design constructing theframe work or large beams supporting the machinery, in the same way, forthe same purpose.

(G, G,) represent two oscillating engines, the pistons (f,) ofwhich, areconnected by a crank pin at (6,) to the face plates (L,)` are fast onthe main driving shaft (g, g, are the steam chests, (S,) the steam pipe,and (za) the reversing lever, by 3 which latter, the engines arereversed, for I backing or other purposes. To the bottom l of the floorof the carriage near either end and in acentral position, laterally arefirmly secured, two stands, (V, V,) provided with caps, and which formbearings for the universal driving boxes (H2, H2,); the peculiarconstruction of said boxes, is readily comprehended by examining thedifferent views of the same in the drawings; it will be seen that theseboxes are so constructed as to adapt themselves to the boxes (V, V,) orstraps, which pass around them in grooves or between shoulders, and thatthe former are t-hus enabled to revolve as a shaft or spindle, withouthaving any lateral motion, and that either of said boxes has, formedaround the center of its outer surface a. pinion (22,) and near eitherend, a groove (P, P,), which grooves, act as pulleys, and that theopening through the center of each of said boxes is of the formrepresented by two frustums of square pyramids joined together at theirsmaller bases. And the ends of said boxes, it will readily be perceived,are formed in the plane of a sphere, whose center is at the center ofthe box.

(E, E,) are the axles which are made square, where they pass through theboxes (H,2) or between the collars (A, A2,) one of which (A2,) is madesolid or fast with the axle, the other (A) to screw on as a nut, upon athread cut on a portion of the axle, the said collars have theiradjacent sides, formed in the plane of the same sphere as the ends ofthe box, (H2,) and are for the purpose of retaining the axles in thebox(H2,) or in position longitudinally; on either end of the axles (E,) aresuitable shoulders and bearings adapted to the hubs of the wheels (F,F,) which are secured in place, by means of nuts (D) or in any otherdesirable manner. (W, W,) are two straddle boxes, one near either end ofthe axle (E,) and immediately under the center of the track, or frictionplate 0n the top of said boxes are fastened, by means of bolts thesprings (PL) which support the body of the carriage ,-in either of theends of the springs (H,) are friction rolls (1,) which bear on theplates or tracks (K,) which are circular' in a horizontal plane (bestseen at Plate 2).

The springs (P1, 11,) are designed to support the carriage and maintainit in nearly a horizontal plane, under any and all circumstances; theoperation or tendency7 of these springs to accomplish the desired objectmay be partially understood from (Fig. 2, Plt. 3), where the axle (E,)is represented in an oblique position, and the body or floor of thecarriage supported in a horizontal plane. 1 do not pretend to say thatby means of these springs constructed, and operating as'they do, thatthe floor of the carriage will remain in a horizontal position no matterhow excessively the wheels on one side may be elevated, but that thedesired position will be maintained'against any reasonable elevation, orthatwhich will be likely to be caused by any unevenness of the groundover which the said carriage may pass. 1t will also be seen thatalthough the carriage rests literally upon the springs (11,) or thefriction rolls in their extremities, that the said springs are not atall confined to said carriage body, but that they travel around in thearc of a circle, struck from a point exactly over, or in the samevertical line with the center of the box, (I, 1,) are the frictionrolls, which bear on plates or tracks (K, K,) on the bottom of thecarriage floor.,v (f) is a sliding or adjustable bushing, on which theuniversal box (11,) takes its bearing, (see Plt. 3,) Vthe advantage ofthis sleeve, is its capability of being adjusted on the shaft (E,) forthe purpose of renewing the bearing of box (112,) on said shaft (orbushin-g), which box, it will be seen bears, on a very small portion ofsaid bushing consequently soon wears the latter, and requires a newbearing which is presented by slipping the said bushing (f,). 1 wouldhere remark-that the universal box may be made with its bearing point,slightly curved or rounded olf as seen at (Fig. 3, Plt. 3) instead ofbeing angular (as represented at Fig. 1, Plt. 3) and also that the saidboxes maybe provided with internal bushings, (as represented by thatportion of (Fig. 3, Plt. 3) which is colored (blue) for the purpose ofrenewing their interiors or bearing surfaces economically). (J, J,) areclutches on the axles (15,) which are operated by means of shippers (B,B) (see Plt. 3,) and which are designed to couple to, or uncouple fromthe axle (111,) their respective Wheels (F,) it being necessary so todo, when the carriage is required to turn around as those wheelstraveling in the larger circle must necessarily go faster than theiropposites.y

(X) is the frame work solid with the stands (V, V,) and through themsecured to the bottom of the carriage; on said frame work areconstructed the boxes, or bearings of the main shaft (M,) and those ofthe shafts of the intermediate gears (O, 0,) at either end of the framework, lower down than the rest, are cross beams or plates (X) which.plates have projecting downward from their bottom sides, studs (Z,).-The projecting arms (Y, Y,) at the rear end of the framevvorlnto-gether with the brackets and stands (0,) on top of thecarriage, though represented in the drawings, require no descriptionhere, as they were originally designed for attaching a series of plows,but are not considered as part of this invention. (B, 13,) are twoswiveling frames the construction of which is best understood by*reference to the drawings, where it will be observed that these framesare supported by the pivots `or studs (Z, Z,) and their nuts (see Plate3,) on which studs they turn freely in a horizontal plane; at eitherside of these frames project upward arms, which are slotted to receivethe axles (EQ-and in which said axles may freely swing in a verticalplane, but by which they are confined horizontally; to the said arms ofthe forward frame are also secured the steering arcs (0,) by means ofbolts, (CQ) (see Plate 3,). The said frames (13,) have also each twohorizontal arms, (see P. 2,) with which are cast the arcs, or segmentsof spur gears (Q, Q,) by means of which the two axles are geared to eachother: whereby they derive the peculiarity of always moving together,and in such directions as that their ad ajcent ends shall alwaysapproach toward, or depart from each other, and of always being lockedthe one with the other.

(0,) is the steering or swiveling a-rc which is bolted to the upwardarms of the forward frame (13,) by bolts (C,) as before described, andwhich meshes into the pinion (D) (see Plates l, and 2,) said pinion(1),) is keyed on a vertical shaft (T,) which is supported by the box(V,) in which it has its lower bearing, the upper bearing of said shaftis formed in plate (U,) which latter is irmly secured to the top surfaceof the carriage floor; on the top of said plate (11,) is a stand (m,) inwhich are pivoted the pawls, (k, and n, seeFig. 3, Plt. 1,) said pawlso-r fingers bite into the double ratchet wheel on shaft (T,) and arekept locked into said wheel by means of the spiral spring on the stud orpin (Z,) which is fast to pawl (m) and works loose in a slot, in pawl(76,) the operation and advantages of this peculiar mechanism, are asfollows lllhen the shaft (T,) is required to be turned to the left whichis done by the hand wheel the back end of pawl (m) is raised up and itsfront end thus thrown down or out of the lower ratchet, while saidelevation of the back end, compresses the spiral spring on stud (Z,) andcauses it to exert sufficient pressure on pawl (76,) as to insure itsbiting successively into the notches of the upper ratchet; when it isrequired to turn the shaft in the opposite direction, the back end ofpawl (70,) is depressed, which unlocks it, and causes the spring tooperate on the lower pawl, as it before did on t-he upper one.

(P) is the main driving pinion; it is keyed to the shaft (M,) and meshesinto the intermediate gears (0, 0,) which are fast on the shipableshafts (R, R) g said shafts may be shipped or moved longitudinally intheir bearings, by means of any desirable shipping arrangement,operating in the shipper grooves, (R, R,) for the purpose of throwingthe intermediate gears (0, 0,) in or out of gear with the driving pinion(13,) and box pinions, (b, b, see Fig. Il, Plt. I,) in which the saidgears (0, 0,) are represented in gear by red lines, and out of gear byblack lines. I

(N, N,) are two loose pulleys on the main shaft (M,) which are connectedwith the driving boxes (H2) by means of chain belts (M2) passing aroundthem and over t-he pulleys (p, p,) on the driving boxes; said pulleysare made fast with the main shaft, by means of splined clutches (8, 8,)which are operatedby suitable levers, and take into the clutch pins (a,0,) in said pulleys (N, N,) for the purpose of driving the boxes (H2,)by the endless chains (M2) at a greater speed, which it is necessarythey should run with, when the carriage is performing slight draft. Thepeculiar' construction of the parts of the machine, can only beunderstood from the drawings and model.

Having given as full a description of the construction as ispracticable, I will now proceed to explain the operation of my i1nproved steam carriage which is as follows viz: The oscillating engines(G, G,) being supplied by a steam boiler and furnace (not represented)which boiler is fed from the tank formed in and as a part of thecarriage, drive the main shaft (M,) on which is the fast pinion (1),)meshing into the inter-mediate gears (0, 0,) and they into the pinions(2J, p,) of the boxes (H2) by which arrangement of gears the said boxesare driven at t-he required speed; the said boxes drive the square axles(E,) on which are made fast the wheels of the carriage (F, F). When itis necessary to turn the carriage in either direction the pawls andratchet wheel (2,) and shaft (T,) are operated as hereinbeforedescribed, which operation causes the pinion (D,) meshing into segment(0,) to

rotate said segment around its center, and as said segment is secured tothe frame (13,) (as before described) it causes said frame to swivel orturn on the stud (Z,) which frame carries with it, by means of itsslotted upright arms, the axle (E,) and its opposite one (the two alwaysmoving together by means of the arcs (Q, Q,) ,as before described) andthus causes the adjacent wheels of the carriage to approach toward ordepart from each other; when the wheels on either side of the carriageare uncoupled from their axles by means of the clutches (J, J,) andshipper (B,) (as described) and the carriage is allowed to run in acircle. When it is designed to back, the engines are reversed by meansof the reversing lever (a,) and when the carriage is required to runfast, having little labor to perform, the intermediate gears (0,) arethrown out of gear, by means of the shipable shafts (It, R,) operated bysuitable levers, and the pulleys (N, N,) are made fast with the shaft(M,) by means of clutches (S, S,) when the axles or boxes (H2,) aredriven rapidly by the endless chain (M2). By throwing the gears (0, 0,)and pulleys (N, N,) both out of connection, the driving shaft is allowedto run without effecting any motion of the carriage, and may beconnected to stationary machinery or used to run the pumps for feedingthe boiler (without ruiming the carriage).

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of my steamcarriage, what I claim as my invention and what I desire to secure byLetters Patent is l. So combining and arranging' the driving machinery,and body of the carriage, with the wheels and axles as described so thatthe lathe may be both swiveled, moved, or adjusted in any and alldirections, without in the leastchanging the relation of the parts of orotherwise affecting the said driving machinery or body of the carriage.

2. The stationary, universal driving bearings, or boxes (H2, H2), ortheir equivalents, whereby the axles and wheels may be readily rotatedor driven, in all their variable relative positions, with the drivingmachinery and body of the carriage.

3. The double ratchet wheel in combination with the pawls (7c, and 71,)and spiral spring, constructed and operating as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JOHN S. HALL. [L s] Vitnesses:

Jos. ToMLiNsoN, R. 0. CAUGHEY.

